During a recent visit to Fort Ward Park in Alexandria, Virginia I came upon a book that has been printed up by the Friends of Fort Ward entitled "MR. LINCOLN'S FORTS: A Guide to the Civil War Defenses of Washington" at the small gift shop/museum that is located on the site. It details the history, location, and past and. present condition of every known fort on both sides of the Potomac River from the period from 1861-65.

Using this book, or just a little information and a detailed road atlas, one can explore the sites of the many of fortifications that once encircled the District. Unfortunately for the, modern visitor, most of them have long ago been buried or bulldozed away, leaving only a handful where traces are even faintly visible. Luckily, a few have survived, and several have been either reconstructed or kept up so that you can get some idea of how they looked 130 years ago.

The obvious place to start is Fort Ward Park, which is located just off of I-395 at 4301 West Braddock Road (look for the signs from the Seminary Road exit.) The Fort is almost entirely intact, and reconstructed ramparts, buildings, and the main gate help to give you an idea of what the construction of most of the similar forts appeared. Fort Ward is open all year round, and you can contact the museum for its hours and other information at (703) 838-4848. The staff will be glad to help you learn about both Fort Ward and other forts around Washington from the Civil War.

One of the other forts located in Northern Virginia that still exists in good condition is Fort Marcy. Its located along the Potomac River, north of Chain Bridge, just off the George Washington Parkway. Fort Marcy is operated and maintained by the George Washington Memorial Parkway and offers guided tours by appointment. Call (703) 285-2601. The fort is well preserved, and contains rifle pits, parapets, gun platforms, etc., that are well identified by historical markers and signs.

On the Maryland/District side of the Potomac River, there are many National Park Service maintained sites of the old forts, some of which are intact to varying degrees. Two of these are Forts Washington and Foote which are right on the river south of Washington and contain ordnance of various types used at both forts. Information on visiting them and tours can be obtained by calling (301) 763-4600.

One final site that is a "must-see" for anyone wishing to explore the Civil War forts around Washington is Fort Stevens, site of the only battle in the District during the war, and the only time in U.S. history that a President has come under fire while in office. In July 1864, Confederate General Jubal Early made an attack upon the Capitol, and nearly succeeded in driving into it before being stopped at Fort Stevens.

While not much exists at the site of the original fort, some reconstruction has been done, and there are a number of historic markers and the Battleground National Cemetery nearby. The site, and several others, are administered by Rock Creek Park. Call the Rock Creek Park Nature Center for tour information at (202) 426-6829.

If you are interested in visiting any of Civil War Fort Parks, the National Park Service puts out a nice brochure with a map with some additional information in fold-out form that will make planning your trip easier. This brochure is available at most of the park sites that have visitor centers. In addition, the Fort Ward Park Museum has a wide variety of books, maps, and memorabilia connected to the Civil War and the forts in particular, and a well-stocked research library available for use by appointment.

Whether you're doing some serious Civil War research, or just going on a weekend outing, the parks of the Civil War Defenses of Washington are a good opportunity to see a bit of military history right in your own backyard (maybe literally!) Go out and visit one soon.